ROI calculator

How much did your investment return?

See the total return, the gain and the yearly rate it equals.

Amount invested

Final value

Holding period (years)

Return on investment

50%

Gain $5,000.00 · 8.45% a year over 5 years

How to use

Enter what you invested and what it is worth now, including any payouts you received.
Enter how many years you held it; use decimals for part of a year.
Read the total return, with the gain and the yearly rate it equals below it. Copy the link to share it.

How it works

Return on investment tells you how much you gained compared with what you put in. Two investments can have the same total return over very different times, so the yearly rate is the fairer comparison: it is the steady growth per year that would give the same end result.

With an amount invested I, a final value F and n years, ROI = (F − I) ÷ I × 100 and the annualized return is ((F ÷ I)^(1/n) − 1) × 100. For example, €10,000 that grows to €15,000 in 5 years is a 50% return, or 8.45% a year. The yearly rate is the compound annual growth rate (CAGR): $100 that becomes $800 in 15 years grew 14.9% a year.

The calculation assumes one investment at the start and nothing added or taken out in between. Fees, taxes and inflation are not deducted unless you leave them out of the final value. Past returns don't predict future ones.

Worked example

What is the return when 1,000 grows to 1,210 in 2 years?

Gain: 1,210 − 1,000 = 210.
Total return: 210 ÷ 1,000 × 100 = 21%.

The total return is 21%; the equivalent compound yearly rate is 10%.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good ROI?

It depends on the time and the risk. Compare the annualized return with alternatives over the same period, such as a savings account or an index fund.

Why is the yearly rate less than the total divided by the years?

Because growth compounds: each year's gain also grows in later years. A 50% return over 5 years is 8.45% a year, not 10%.

Should dividends be included?

Yes. Add payouts you received, such as dividends, interest or rent, to the final value, or the return looks smaller than it was.

Can I use it for a loss?

Yes. A final value below the amount invested gives a negative return, and a final value of zero is a total loss of −100%.

Can I use this for monthly contributions?

No. This calculation assumes a single initial investment. Contributions made later need a calculation that accounts for when each payment was made.

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